20 – 25 JUNE 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
20 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 17. 5-8, 13-15A, 18; MATTHEW 7. 1-5
Thrust: Liable to judgment!
Indicative: Failure in fidelity to God and charity toward others makes one culpable and liable to God’s judgment and punishment
1. In both the readings, there is one common theme that can be elicited, and that is judgment. Israel becomes liable to God’s judgment and subsequent punishment in the form of foreign invasions, exile, and slavery. This is because of their sinfulness and infidelity to their true God.
2. They totally forget God’s mighty intervention and works in their history. They turn ungrateful and highly unfaithful. They abandon the true God and go after false gods. Despite the warnings through many prophets, they would not listen; they were stubborn. They despised his statutes, his warnings, and his covenant. They would not turn from their evil ways and keep his commandments.
3. Thus obstinacy and infidelity were their greatest sins that invited God’s judgment. Similar was the case of the Pharisees and scribes in the time of Jesus. They were stubborn and self-righteous. They would not listen to Jesus. They would judge themselves as merited and meritorious. But they would judge others as unrighteous.
4. They would find fault with others even with regard to the smallest matters while they would ignore their own bigger lapses. They see eagerly even the “speck” in the other’s eye while they close their eyes even to the big “log” in their own eye. And they readily make themselves as saviours over others, saying to them, “let me take the speck out of your eye”.
5. Therefore, stop this judgmental attitude toward others in which we judge them hastily, wrongly, and uncharitably. Let us remember that the more we are judgmental, the more we will become judgment-liable before God. So, instead of judging others, it is better that we judge ourselves.
Imperative: Let us always remember the famous saying, “You get back what you give”. Every action will have its due consequences. Be benevolent and merciful to others so that we can at least plead for God’s mercy for us
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 22 JUNE)
Focus: Doing wrong and what is evil is already bad. But not minding it, not accepting it, and justifying it stubbornly and self-righteously, is worse
Down through the centuries, humanity has been infected with great sins, namely stubbornness and self-righteousness. This prevents any sincere awareness and committed efforts to change. The stubbornness of the Israelites, expressed as stiff-neckedness in the first reading disgusts God, while the self-righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes displeases Jesus. The stiff-neckedness of the Israelites shows itself in their infidelity to God falling to idolatry, and immorality, and rejecting His warning and admonitions for a change of heart through prophets. Thus their sin leads them into exile.
Jesus confronts the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees and scribes. This attitude shows itself in refusing to do any self-check, in rating themselves better than others, and thus judging and condemning them. That's why Jesus insists that it is better to "see the log in one's own eye instead of making noise about the speck in other's eye".
Direction: In a virulent atmosphere of judgment and condemnation of which criticism and slander are the offshoots, we must cultivate a humble spirit of self-examination and self-realisation
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, on the gospel)
In the gospel, Jesus addresses the malaise of self-righteousness. This is accompanied by rash and uncharitable judgment of others. Jesus confronts the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees and scribes. This attitude refuses to do any self-check. It rates itself better than others. Consequently, it judges and condemns them. It is blind to the weakness of oneself or diminishes their faults. But on the other hand, it magnifies and exaggerates the wrongs of others. It is clearly applying double standards. St Francis de Sales has something wise said about this. He says, many are eager to accuse others even for the slightest mistake, while they excuse themselves even for the greatest blunder. People clamour for justice in the neighbour’s house while they plead for mercy in their own house. So, it is better to place oneself in the place of the other and see and feel from their perspective. Jesus too insists that it is better to "see the log in one's own eye instead of making noise about the speck in other's eye".
Direction: In a virulent atmosphere of judgment and condemnation, of which criticism and slander are the offshoots, we must cultivate a humble spirit of self-examination and self-realization
21 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 19. 9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36; MATTHEW 7. 6, 12-14
Thrust: Wisdom to discern!
Indicative: Many fail in taking the right decisions and implementing them into the right actions. It is because they fail in discerning between right and wrong. Further, this is because they lack wisdom
1. One dominant theme in today’s word of God is divine discernment. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria does not realise and discern between God’s unsurpassable might and his own limited human resources and army capacities. He does not discern that the God of Israel is the supreme warrior, victor, and protector of His people.
2. Consequently, he ridicules Hezekiah, the king of Israel that there is no rescue for him other than surrendering to the hands of Assyria. God thwarts his plans and frustrates his human capacities. He declares explicitly, “I will defend the city and save it”. Failure in discernment brings in humiliation and destruction.
3. In the gospel, 3 further cases call for discernment: not throwing what is holy to the dogs, and pearls before the pigs; doing to others what we want them to do to you; entering through the narrow gate and way and not the broader.
4. What is holy and precious like pearl maybe our faith, our life. They are so sacred and valuable. So we must always safeguard and preserve them intact. We should not tamper with them or taint them.
5. We should not expose them to dogs and pigs, meaning the evil forces or pressures. We should not deal with our faith and life thoughtlessly and carelessly. This is also a caution against the evil to be careful and not be taken for a ride.
6. The second aspect of discernment is to opt for altruism. In Jesus’ words, it is to “do to others what you want them to do to you”. Accordingly, it would mean that we always think, feel, speak and do only what is good and positive toward others. No one would wish bad or harm for one’s own self. This in fact is the “Golden Rule”.
7. The third aspect of discernment is between the narrow gate and way and the broader gate and way. The former is difficult but leads to salvation. But the latter, the broader is easier but leads to destruction.
Imperative: The man of today lacks this power of discernment. That is why he easily falls to the fierce attacks of the evil, the dogs and pigs. He is not able to preserve intact his life and faith. He fails in altruism. He is prone and eager to walk the broader way and meets with discernment
(REFLECTION 2, FROM 2020, JUNE 23)
Focus: The people of the world think of themselves on the top of the world relying on their own capacities, but they will be put to shame when God mercifully intervenes on behalf of His people
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, places too much trust in his mighty army and underestimates and ridicules God Yahweh and Hezekiah, the king of Judah. But Hezekiah realizes his own vulnerable situation and turns to God, placing his total trust in Him and entrusting the whole cause to God. And God does not fail his trust and rescues his country from the enemy's hand. This is the real faith - counting on God even in seemingly desperate and defeating situations. It is this faith that Jesus speaks as something holy and pearl that should be preserved without throwing to dogs or swine, which can mean evil and worldly forces. In safeguarding this faith,, two principles will be significant: perseverance with a wise discernment to choose the narrow way against the broader way and persist in the same; the second principle is an empathetic benevolence towards others, that is, to place ourselves in the situations of others and to do to others the good that we wish for ourselves.
Direction: Realizing the worth of faith, Reliance on God, clarity of priorities, and walking the right way, are the fundamental norms of a good and godly life
(REFLECTION 3, FROM 2021, JUNE 22)
Focus: It needs a deep faith to choose the right path of God and walk it steadily. This includes a benevolent approach toward others
Faith and benevolence are the most effective powers of a true follower of God. This is what the Word of God reiterates today. It is a faith that is unswerving and wisely discerning. And it is a benevolence that is empathetic and generous. It is this faith that Jesus speaks as something holy and pearl. This should be preserved without throwing to dogs or swine that indicate the evil and worldly forces. We should be judicious not to expose and submit our faith to the endangering nature and ways of the world. The world does not realize the value of the sacredness and preciousness of faith. The world may trample it underfoot as something useless. It may wrongly show us that faith is not worth it. The world will choose the broader way of ease and pleasure, and will falsely make us think that it is the best way. It is in such situations we should preserve and safeguard our faith. We must wisely discern and choose the narrow way against the broader way. We must persistently walk the narrow way. It is difficult but it alone leads to salvation.
This narrow way of faith involves a life of benevolence. It is a kindness that empathetically understands and thinks of the good of others. In Jesus’ own words, it does to others what it wishes for itself from others. In simple details, true benevolence is marked by empathy and altruism. It gives others that understanding, respect, concern, love, encouragement, appreciation, and support, that it expects from others.
22 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 22. 8-13, 23. 1-3; MATTHEW 7. 15-20
Thrust: Wickedness in disguise?
Indicative: Mere external appearances cannot prove the real quality of something or someone. They can be clever devices and deceptive disguises. Only authentic actions matter
1. There is a rampant “mask” culture. The real character often is under pretensions and disguises. Many go about with a lot of duplicities, giving an appearance and colouring of being good and holy. But in truth, they are only hiding their bad nature under a good cover. This is what Jesus calls, “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
2. Quite true to Jesus’ warning, there are many false prophets all around us who wear sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. These project themselves as meek, humble, and pure like sheep. They appear to be harmless. But inside they are full of aggressiveness, and destructive nature.
3. They wait for every little chance to pounce on others and harm them grievously. But how do we find them out? Is there any criterion, any test to uncover their real colour? It is by looking at their fruits. As Jesus cautions, these are the bad or diseased trees. They pretend to bear good fruit. But they bear only bad fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. These are the thorn bushes and they cannot produce grapes or figs. Their end will only be destruction, just as every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
4. The falsity, the deceptiveness, and failing the test of the authenticity of these false prophets should serve as a caution, warning, and challenge for all of us not to fall into the same trap. Instead of bad or diseased trees, we must be good trees that bear good fruits. We must not be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Rather we must be sheep in sheep’s clothing.
5. For this, like the king of Judah and all his people in the first reading, we must constantly rediscover and renew our covenant with the Lord. We must resolve to “walk after the Lord, to keep his commandments, his testimonies and his statutes with all our heart and all our soul”.
Imperative: Claiming to be good and healthy trees but bearing bad fruits is a contradiction. Let us try to be good trees not only in appearance but in truth by bearing good fruits
(REFLECTION 2, FROM 2021, 23 JUNE on the gospel)
Falsity is always detestable in the sight of God because He knows the humans through and through. Those who are false may disguise themselves in the garbs of holiness. They may be able to fool and deceive others. But they cannot fool God. God will certainly take them to the task. This is how Jesus warns in the gospel about the false people in the holy garb of prophets. These are inwardly violent wolves but outwardly meek sheep. They are bad trees that appear to bear good fruits. But they bear only bad fruits. And they are judged by their bad fruits. Accordingly, just like the bad trees they will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore, what is important is that we are sincere and authentic with no false disguises. We must grow and live like good trees that bear good fruits. We must prove ourselves by the quality of our fruits. Then surely God will bless us and reward us abundantly.
23 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 24. 8-17; MATTHEW 7. 21-29
Thrust: Shallow promises do not suffice!
Indicative: Mere words or shallow activities will not please God and bring His blessings. What really matters is to cease to do evil and be faithful to God
1. The word of God once again makes it clear that evil is abominable and displeasing to God. What He expects from us is to avoid evil, and to remain faithful to Him. If one fails in this, he will meet the consequences, ending up in destruction. This is what happened in the case of Jehoiachin, the king of Judah.
2. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. As a consequence, he meets with defeat and captivity at the hands of the king of Babylon. A similar fate would await all those who do evil. They may acclaim “Lord, Lord”. But that will not suffice. If they fail to do God’s will, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Some others may also do apparently many religious activities and spiritual gifts like prophecy, exorcism, and miracles. But that too will not suffice. They need to avoid their wickedness and be faithful to God in an integral life. Otherwise, they will meet the fate of rejection by the Lord who would declare, “I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of wickedness”.
4. Ultimately what matters the most is to live a life, founded and built on rock. It means to live a life that remains solid and firm in faith, beaten by winds and floods but unshaken. It means to live a life that is docile and submissive to listen and be tuned to His voice and promptings. It means to live a life that is constantly built on His teachings and values. It means to live a life that strives to do His mission of spreading His kingdom and bearing abundant fruits of good actions.
5. But on the contrary, if one builds his house on a foundation of sand, their fall will be sure and great. It is to entangle oneself in worldly dissipations, being carried away by worthless interests and pursuits. These are the ones who are content with mere empty words and shallow activities. Their hearts cling to evil and their lives continue dichotomous.
Imperative: It is wisdom that makes the vital difference between the two types of foundations. People of wisdom build their life on rock while those foolish, on sand. What are we – wise or foolish? What foundation is ours – rock or sand?
(REFLECTION 2, FROM 2020, JUNE 25)
Focus: Knowledge alone will not suffice to live a worthwhile life and to be pleasing in God's sight but we need the wisdom of God to discern and follow the right
Doing evil will bring only God's just wrath and doom. This is clearly seen in the case of Jehoiachin, the king of Judah who did evil in the sight of God and consequently was defeated and deported as a captive by the king of Babylon. Jesus too is stern with all those who do evil. Mere prophesying or doing great exorcisms or miracles or organising great things in God's name, or preaching great, will not qualify one worthy before God and to enter heaven. It is like the foolishness to build one's life on the loose foundation of sand of worldly pursuits and evil ways. The real qualification is the wisdom to build one's life on the solid foundation of the rock of faith and goodness and a resultant authentic life that strives always to do God's will.
Direction: Today the illusion of many should be shattered that mere talent, competence, and resources will not merit God's holy pleasure but only a holy and good life
24 JUNE 2022: SACRED HEART OF JESUS, EZEK 34. 11-16; ROM 5. 5b -11; LUKE 15. 3-7
Thrust: Love that never ceases but seizes hearts!
Indicative: In a culture where advanced culture equals to lack of heartiness and sensitivity, the festivity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is a challenge to foster a culture of heart
1. This feast of the most sacred heart of Jesus reveals and confirms to us that our God is a God of heart. That is, a God who values us so much, who loves us without end, always radiating upon us the rays of His care, a God whose heart burns with the flame, the fire of passion. It never gets cold, it never becomes lukewarm, but always passionate, always zealous.
2. Even if we are weak and fragile, even if we fall often, even if we make so many mistakes, even if we fail in our fidelity and sincerity, even if we lack in our responsibilities and duties, even if we do not deeply believe, live and witness how we must like the believers, like the children of God and disciples of Christ, even if we often wound that beloved heart of Jesus - still despite all our weaknesses, faults, unfaithfulness, and unworthiness, God loves us. Jesus never fails to love us.
3. This fact of the love of God, so faithful and persevering, is today a matter of great comfort and encouragement. Especially in our times, in our society, where and when, unfortunately, the ambience and the culture of love, of loving, of warmth of heart, of tenderness, of sensitivity, is diminishing, but instead an air, a culture of hatred, rancor, indifference, violence, evil is increasing, this celebration of the heart, of love is a confirmation, a call, a challenge, and a guide for a way of living of love.
4. Today the Lord comforts us that he always pours his love over us. Never doubt, even if sometimes we are surmounted by difficulties, upset by afflictions, beset by unfavorable situations, God loves us. Trust in God. Trust in his love. Feel the warmth of his heart. Experience the passion, the fire of his love. Be open and docile to the marvel of his love.
5. Not only this but also we are called to nurture and foster a deep love for him. Love God. Let us be gripped with a passionate feeling, a powerful bonding with the Lord. Many times we feel a lot of interest, enthusiasm, anxiety, and concern for many things. But how much intensity and depth for the Lord are there? How do we cooperate with God's commitment as He promises: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and put back a heart of flesh "(Ezek 36. 26). That is, a heart that is warm, tender, sensitive, and caring, a heart that is open, which understands, accepts, forgives, and helps.
6. Then let us grow such a heart towards God and towards others. Let us open our hearts to God and to our sisters and brothers. Let us widen our hearts. Let us guard them, heal, enrich, and transform our hearts so that our hearts also become like the sacred heart of Jesus.
Imperative: Let us grow such a heart towards God and towards others. Let us open our hearts to God and to our sisters and brothers. Let us widen our hearts. Let us guard them, heal, enrich, and transform our hearts so that our hearts also become like the sacred heart of Jesus
25 JUNE 2022: ISIAH 49. 1-6; ACTS 13. 22-26; LUKE 1. 57-66: SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Thrust: Consecrated and committed
Indicative: Our life is not a haphazard or fortuitous existence without a goal and direction but it is a gratuitous and gracious gift of God
1. Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. His is the only birth we celebrate besides the birthdays of the Lord and the Mother. That alone shows the singular importance that is accorded to him. The words of prophets Jeremiah 1. 4-10 and Isaiah 49. 1-6 are true and applicable to his birth and mission.
2. He has been eternally destined by God to be his precursor, who prepares the way for the Messiah, who preaches repentance and converts many to the way of the Lord. He was called and named by the Lord from the mother’s womb. He was made like a sharp sword and like a polished arrow. He was the chosen servant of God. He was made as a light to the nations. In him, God is glorified.
3. The second reading from Acts 13. 22-26 also indicates that John is a man after God’s own heart who will do all his will like David. God Himself would be his shield and guide. He would hide him in the shadow of His hand, and in His quiver. Hence no fear!
4. The birth of John the Baptist recalls and reminds us of our own Christian vocation and mission, which can be summarized in three essential aspects: destiny, consecration, and empowerment. We are destined for eternity, destined to be heirs of heaven.
5. In the pursuit of this destiny, we are consecrated to be His own, to be the disciples of Christ on his mission. In carrying out this mission and living out of the life of grace, we are empowered with His own power that emboldens us and illumines us amidst all fears and evil forces.
6. John the Baptist lived and accomplished his destiny, consecration, and empowerment by his undistracted focus, humble surrender, and unflinching loyalty
Imperative: Life will be joyful and fulfilling to the extent we are profoundly aware and live our project of destiny, consecration, and empowerment in focus, surrender, and commitment
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